Friday, November 20, 2009

Preparing to Submit: Part Three

This week we've talked about preparing to submit our work to agents and editors. Today is the final installment, the nitty-gritty details to attend to before you send out your work.


Here are several questions to ask yourself before you submit. This is not the definitive list, but it covers the basics.

1. Is my manuscript formatted correctly? Most agents and editors expect to see it double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and in a twelve-point font such as Courier or Times New Roman. They also expect the header to include the title of your manuscript and your last name. Page numbers should be either in the header or the footer. Be sure to give each new chapter its own page.

2. Is my query personalized? Address the query to a real person. You can find the names of editors and agents through their websites or in a publication such as Writer's Market.

3. Does my query include contact information? Include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and your blog's URL and website's URL if you have either.

4. Am I submitting this correctly? You may have to print and send your query, or you may have to e-mail the query, depending on the agent's or editor's guidelines.

If you are sending the query through the mail, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for them to reply to you.

If you are e-mailing your query, include your name and intent in the subject line and do not send the query as an attachment. The subject might look something like Jill Kemerer: Query, or, if they've requested something, Jill Kemerer: Requested Partial and Synopsis.

Don't give them any reason to reject you before they've even read your query. Tess Hilmo recently posted about how agents and editors need a recognizable name in order to open an e-mail file. Avoid using a vague e-mail address.

5. Have I included everything? When you're submitting a query, usually the query letter is all you need. However, when someone requests a partial or a full, there are other important items to include.

I prefer to include a brief cover letter, which is a shorter version of the query. It contains the title of the book, the word count, the genre, and a brief blurb. All of my contact information is in the cover letter. Then, I include a synopsis, a cover page for the manuscript, and the requested chapters. The cover page is the title of the book, the word count, and my contact information.

Again, depending on who is requesting, I may have to send a printed out copy of all of this, with a self-addressed, stamped envelope, or I may have to e-mail it. If e-mailing, find out the person's policy--whether they want it in an attachment or not.

What do you think? Have I forgotten anything? I'm sure I have! Please let me know your tips on the nitty-gritty of preparing a submission.

Have a fantastic weekend!

35 comments:

  1. Very thorough list, Jill! Wish I'd had it when I first started querying! Have a great weekend, my friend!

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  2. It looks like you've got everything covered here. I'd also say to keep a file as you go, logging the agents queried, dates, responses, that sort of thing.

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  3. Good Morning!

    Jody: So do I! It would have made life easier!

    Joanne: Great advice! Keep a log of what you sent, when you sent it, and to whom. Nice!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  4. For us Canadians, we need to send an international reply coupon since or stamps don't work over there.

    It's a complete list from my view. Very helpful for those starting out.

    Have a great weekend, Jill!!

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  5. You're right on, Jill! The biggest thing is to do the research and see what it specific agent wants--which is what you said! Have a great weekend!

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  6. Excellent list Jill. This would be a fantastic resource for someone just starting out (I totally could have used it!)

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  7. Eileen: Those IRC's can be so pesky to find. Good point!

    Kristen: Oh yeah. Blind submissions are never a good idea!

    Natalie: I wish I'd had it too!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  8. That's a great list Jill. I have your blog bookmarked because you are always so informative and helpful. Thank you for taking the time to do all of this.

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  9. Thanks for this Jill. That time is coming up soon, and I'm getting nervous. Thanks also to Eileen. I'm Canadian too, and forgot about the international coupon.

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  10. Great check list, Jill. Tis the season to query! Can't wait to hear some more success stories from our fellow writers soon.

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  11. Perfect list! It's so hard to cover all our bases. Even when I think I have I usually find I could have done better or outright missed something.

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  12. Regina: Thank you very much! You just made my day!

    Anonymous: Oh, it is nervewracking! But it's so exciting, too. Totally worth it!

    Lisa and Laura: How kind of you! I hope we see tons of success stories!

    T.Anne: There's nothing worse than reviewing a query already sent out and finding a comma misplaced or something similar!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  13. It surprises me that some still want it the old-fashioned way, by post, but I have done that before. I'm glad most are happy with email. I'll never forget the way my pulse hammered (bad cliche, lol!) the first few times I hit send :D

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  14. Great details. And if you have a "vague" email, do you need one with your full or just last name in it? Would you start up a new email just for these types of mailings?

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  15. This has been such a helpful series, one I too wish I had read before I first started submitting. And like Georgiana, I've always gotten a case of the pea-green clammies after I hit that send button. Soooo nervewracking.

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  16. Great list. You have everything down. :-)

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  17. Love the list! Thanks for sharing all this information:)

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  18. Georgiana: Quite a few editors and agents still want it the old-fashioned way. I wonder what it will be like in ten years?

    Nancy: I'm not an expert, but I would say a first and last name would be the best. You could get a free e-mail account through Yahoo or a similar service if your current e-mail isn't a recognizable name.

    Erica: It's always exciting and scary, isn't it?

    Jessica, Paul, and Kara: Thanks!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  19. What a good resource, Jill! I have a feeling I'll be utilizing this advice in the next several months.

    I agree that it's helpful to keep a list of who you've queried and the date you sent your query or submission out. Gives you a frame of reference.

    Have a great weekend!

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  20. Great reminders, Jill! I can't imagine that you've forgotten anything. BTW - I love your photos - does someone take them for you? Today's pic is just gorgeous!! Have a great weekend!

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  21. Em-musing: Thanks! Hope your trip was fabulous!

    Cindy: I keep track of it in (what else!) an Excel file. Easy!

    Maria: Thanks! And no, I'm sadly untalented in the photography department. I use Flickr's Creative Commons to find the gorgeous photos. It's like a mini-vacation!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  22. Nice tips. Have a great weekend yourself.

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  23. Susan and Angie: Thanks! Have a wonderful weekend!!

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  24. Great series, Jill! You've got a gold mine here.

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  25. Jill, this is one of the best and most informative lists on submitting that I have read. Thank you! And a lovely weekend to you too!
    Angie

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  26. Awesome list, Jill! This will come in handy when I'm finally ready to submit. Thanks.

    Have a great weekend!

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  27. Janna: I can't take the credit--I've learned it all from fellow writers, other bloggers, and other writing organizations.

    Angie M.: Welcome! Thank you very much. I'm glad you found my blog!

    Heather: Let me know when you do--I'll be there for you!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  28. great list! I send a self addressed stamped postcard. And, I always get them back as proof that a person has received my work - and often times, they will write something on there, like 'looks interesting' or 'will contact you soon'...or the dreaded, 'thanks for your submission, not accepting this type of work at this time'.

    In any case, a good list, a very good list, indeed.

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  29. great list! I send a self addressed stamped postcard. And, I always get them back as proof that a person has received my work - and often times, they will write something on there, like 'looks interesting' or 'will contact you soon'...or the dreaded, 'thanks for your submission, not accepting this type of work at this time'.

    In any case, a good list, a very good list, indeed.

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  30. When the time comes, I will definitely look back on this helpful list. Thanks so much!

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  31. TX Playwright Chick: I like the idea of a postcard. Simple and effective!

    Ellie: Glad to be of help!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  32. Thank you for answering my question. That was very helpful.

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